[Ohio-talk] FW: Post Article

[Smith, JW]

Dear NFBO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES:

Given the recent discussion about Braille, please read the article below from our student newspaper and you better believe that this would not have happened if I had not pushed for it!

I am sending it to you not to promote what I have done here and will continue to do but to show you  that every little bit helps in our efforts towards total literacy and positively influencing the attitudes of those who are not blind or visually impaired.

I am telling people at this University, that I am tired of just talking about things but I am very interested in measurable results and clear actions not just nice intentions.

It is up to us to make sure as one of our songs says that, BRAILLE IS HERE TO STAY!

Jw

Dr. jw Smith
School of Communication Studies
Scripps College of Communication
Schoonover Center, Rm. 427
Athens, OH 45701
smithj at ohio.edu<mailto:smithj at ohio.edu>
T: 740-593-4838


From: Banks, Drew
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2017 12:06 PM
To: Smith, JW <smithj at ohio.edu>
Subject: RE: Post Article

JW,

Here you go, see you next Wednesday at 11:00am.......

Drew

Braille menus now available at Front Room
Zach Shrivers<http://www.thepostathens.com/staff/zach-shrivers>
·          FACEBOOK<http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.thepostathens.com/article/2016/12/braille-menus-available-front-room>
·          TWITTER<http://twitter.com/share?text=Braille%20menus%20now%20available%20at%20Front%20Room>
The five cafes on Ohio University's campus now provide braille menus for the visually impaired.
The menus have been available since the end of October at The Front Room Coffeehouse, Café BiblioTech, South Side Espresso Bar, OU-HCOM SAF Café and Steam Station Café, OU Spokesman Dan Pittman said.
"The braille menus are available at all times," Pittman said in an email. "In the short time period that the braille menus have been available, we have had several people ask to use them."
The braille menus are available upon request, Kirsten Reed, a student worker at Front Room, said.
Campus Cafes General Manager Drew Banks worked with J.W. Smith, an associate professor within the School of Communication Studies, on providing accommodations for those living with disabilities. Culinary Services also partnered with Darrell Purdy, an assistant director for employee accessibility training and outreach, Pittman said.
There was minimal cost to create the menus as it was limited to the price of paper the menus were printed on, Pittman said.
"Culinary Services partnered with the Office for Diversity and Inclusion and Alden Library's Adaptive Equipment Lab," Pittman said in an email. "Alden Library provided the paper and translation hardware, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion provided the knowledge and checked the accuracy of the braille, and Culinary Services provided the information to be translated."
Chris Guder, the subject liaison for the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education, made the braille menus. Part of Guder's job is to maintain the braille printer and other technology in the Shostack Adaptive Technology Room in Alden Library.
The braille machine can translate a Word Document using an associated software, Guder said.
"They sent me the word doc files, and I kicked 'em out," Guder said, referring to the braille menus.
Braille menus were something that could be implemented quickly, Pittman said.
"The feedback we have received has been very positive," Pittman said in an email.
Though there has been a positive reaction, there has been no increase in sales.
"This was not done to drive sales, but rather as a way to improve the experience at the Campus Cafés for those living with disabilities at Ohio University and the Athens community," Pittman said in an email.
@ZachShrivers<https://twitter.com/ZachShrivers>


From: Smith, JW
Sent: Friday, January 6, 2017 12:02 PM
To: Banks, Drew <banksa at ohio.edu<mailto:banksa at ohio.edu>>
Cc: Purdy, Darrell <purdyd at ohio.edu<mailto:purdyd at ohio.edu>>
Subject: RE: Post Article


I believe it is at 11 on the 11th in room 424 so see you both then.

Also Drew, would it be possible for you to cut and paste the content of this article in the email area itself and send it to me?

Jw

Dr. jw Smith
School of Communication Studies
Scripps College of Communication
Schoonover Center, Rm. 427
Athens, OH 45701
smithj at ohio.edu<mailto:smithj at ohio.edu>
T: 740-593-4838


From: Banks, Drew
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2017 4:25 PM
To: Smith, JW <smithj at ohio.edu<mailto:smithj at ohio.edu>>
Cc: Purdy, Darrell <purdyd at ohio.edu<mailto:purdyd at ohio.edu>>
Subject: FW: Post Article

Hey guys,

Happy New Year!  I hope you both had a good break.  I wanted to pass along a link for you both to read, over break "The Post" did an article on the cafes carrying braille menus!!  Let me know if you have trouble opening the link.  You might have to right click and "Open Hyperlink".  Also, I know we have a tentative meeting scheduled for next week.  I believe we were going to do at JW's office again?  Can we secure the details so I can add it to my calendar?  Thanks,  hope to hear from you soon.

Drew Banks
Ohio University
General Manager-Campus Cafes

From: Banks, Drew
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 2:37 PM
To: Scott, Douglas <scottd at ohio.edu<mailto:scottd at ohio.edu>>
Subject: Post Article

Here is the link to the article......

From: Banks, Drew
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 2:36 PM
To: Banks, Drew <banksa at ohio.edu<mailto:banksa at ohio.edu>>
Subject:

http://www.thepostathens.com/article/2016/12/braille-menus-available-front-room